Portable cooking stove



March 4, 1969 E. WEBSTER ET AL 3,430,622

PORTABLE COOKING STOVE Filed Dec. 22, 1966 FIG. 1. IO

\ 7 FIG. 5. 6. 25 2 5 20 J 19 u 5 I3 33 I! I Q 21- c J m 27 3O 4 A 2a Q +'Z IO FIG 3. 4. f H 9 2e 30: 22 -/5 3r I8 I7 9 :F 1 22) T 25 3 wa I4 g n q I 27 M I INVENTORS J MILO E. WEBSTER JOSEPH LOCKE ATTORNEY United States Patent K. Locke, Pittsford, N.Y., assignors to Bernz-O-Matic Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 603,975 US. Cl. 126-38 Int. Cl. F24c /20 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable cooking stove having one or more gas burners adapted to burn bottled fuel gas and mounted to a grating which can be swung outwardly from a carrying case into a horizontally extended position for cooking, and retracted into a stowed configuration position within the case for carrying. The carrying case serves as a windshield when the grating and burners are extended into the cooking position, and is so dimensioned as to allow a ready-to-use fuel supply of at least one fuel gas cylinder per burner to be carried within the case when the grating and burners are stowed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention generally pertains to the cooking stove field of the art and more particularly to a portable cooking stove of the bottled fuel gas burning type.

Description of the prior art Portable cooking stoves which burn bottled fuel gas, such as is commonly sold in cylinders by the Bernz-O- Matic Corporation, are in general known in the prior art. Such prior art stoves are essentially limited to constructions wherein the grating and burners are retained within the carrying case during cooking operations. This is somewhat of a disadvantage because practically any food spillage that occurs will collect within the interior of the case, necessitating removal of the grating and burners for cleaning. With the portable stove construction of the invention, the grating and burners are extended outside the carrying case during cooking operations, so that most spillages will fall through the grating onto the ground instead of upon the case. In addition, the grating and burners are so supported by the case and a pivotable leg member that the fuel gas cylinders coupled to the burners by individual control valve assemblies rest one end upon the ground in an inclined position to assure a more favorable fuel combustion. In the stove of the invention, the rear wall of the case, its side walls, and a pair of cover doors, each hinged to the front of a side wall, function as a windshield when the grating and burners are extended into the cooking configuration. While the rear and side walls of the case are normally fixed in relation to the extended grating, the cover doors can be swung about their hinges to provide an adjustable windshielding action. Prior art portable stoves at most provide only a fixed windshield member, usually a hinged front cover which can be locked into an upright position when the carrying case is opened to expose the burners and grating for cooking purposes.

Summary The portable cooking stove of the instant invention can be summarized as the basic combination of a portable exterior case, a grating disposed for support by said case in a generally horizontal attitude extending outwardly therefrom to accommodate cooking upon the grating, one or more gas burner assemblies connected to 3,43%,622 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 the grating for support thereby, and a control valve assembly for each gas burner assembly. Each control valve assembly is designed for interchangeable coupling to a burner assembly and to a fuel gas cylinder to regulate the dispensing of fuel gas from the cylinder to the burner for burning thereby.

As previously explained, the use of a grating and burner assembly which can be extended outward from the carrying case when cooking, provides for a cleaner cooking operation since spillage onto parts in the case is minimized.

Since it is an object of the invention to provide a portable cooking stove, the grating and burners are arranged for movement into a retracted position within the carrying case for containment thereby when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable cooking stove wherein at least one fuel gas cylinder per burner can be stored within the carrying case, so that the entire stove can be transported and stored as a self-contained unit within a ready-to-use fuel supply. To this end the carrying case walls, grating, and a pivotable leg member which supports one end of the grating in the cooking configuration, are so dimensioned as to provide spaces within the case that allow an individual fuel gas cylinder for each burner to be inserted when the grating and burners have been retracted into their stowed configuration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a portable cooking stove construction which, when resting in its cooking configuration upon the ground or other generally horizontal base surface, assures that each fuel gas cylinder coupled to a burner will be supported in an inclined position for proper fuel combustion.

Still another and further object of the invention is to provide a portable cooking stove as aforesaid, wherein its carrying case is capable of functioning as a windshield.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of its preferred embodiments and the figures of the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single burner portable cooking stove according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as seen in the normal cooking configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double burner portable cooking stove according to another embodiment of the invention as seen in the normal cooking configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cooking stove shown in FIG. 2, as seen in the normal stowed configuration, but with its cover doors open to illustrate the stowing of the fuel gas cylinders.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cooking stove shown in the stowed configuration by FIG. 3, but with the cover doors closed as for normal carrying or storage, and illustrating the confinement of the fuel gas cylinders.

FIG. 5 is an elevation view, partly in section, of the cooking stove shown in FIG. 2, as taken along line V-V therein.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawing, it can be noted that the portable cooking stove of the invention can be constructed either as a single burner stove 10, or as a multiple burner stove 10' as indicated by FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively. While the stove 10' is illustrated as having only two gas burner assemblies 11, the invention is not in any way restricted to a limitation of two burners 11 per stove 10, but can be constructed with more than two burners 11 as desired.

In both the single and multiple burner 11 embodiments, the invention provides a portable exterior case 12, a grating 13 disposed for support by the case 12 in a generally horizontal attitude extending outwardly therefrom in the cooking configurations illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, to accommodate cooking upon the grating 13. One or more burner assemblies 11 are secured to the underside of grating 13 for support thereby by any conventional fastening means.

A control valve assembly 30, such as described in U.S. Patent No. 2,793,504, serves to couple each burner 11 to a fuel gas cylinder 14, to regulate the dispensing of fuel gas, such as propane, therefrom to the burner 11 for burning thereby.

In the cooking configuration, the case 12 is adapted to rest with its bottom 15 upon a generally horizontal base surface B, such as the ground, or a table (not shown), and in an upright attitude, with its rear wall 16, side walls 17, and cover doors 18, each hingedly connected to the front edge of a side wall 17, defining a windshield partially surrounding the grating 13.

To allow the grating 13 and burners 11 to be swung from the horizontal cooking position of FIGS. 1 and 2 into a retracted position within the case 12 for stowing as in FIGS. 3 and 4, grating 13 is provided with oppositely projecting rod parts 19 which engage into, and extend through slots 20 provided in side walls 17, a push nut 21 secured to each rod part 19 free end being provided to retain the grating 13 in its pin-and-slot connection to the case 12.

A leg member 22, which is essentially a U-shaped rod, is pivotally connected to the front of grating 13 and in the cooking configuration is swung downward to contact the base surface B, so that the grating 13 is supported horizontally at the front by leg member 22 and at the rear by rod parts 19 resting upon the bottom of slots 20. The leg member 22 is provided with bent portions 23 which are arranged to bear against grating 13 to limit the pivotal movement of leg member 22 to a forward swing angle at which the front of grating 13 is supported at the same height above base surface B as is the rear of grating 13, and thus supports grating 13 in a stable generally horizontal attitude.

To place the stove 10, 10' in its stowed configuration, it is merely necessary to raise the front part of grating 13 to allow the leg member 22 to be swung backwards into a retracted position against the underside of the grating 13, and then to raise the rear of grating 13 and swing its front portion downwardly and towards the case 12 until completely retracted therein, as shown by FIG. 3. The slots 20 are of sufficient upward extension to allow the rear of grating 13 to be raised enough so that its front portion can be swung into the case 12 over a retaining lip projection 24 extending from the bottom 15. After grating 13 has been thus retracted into case 12, it can be released so that its front end rests against bottom 15 and is retained within the case 12 by the lip 24.

As better shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear and side walls 16 and 17, grating 13 and leg member 22 define a pair of open spaces within the case 12 of dimensions adapted to receive each a fuel gas cylinder 14 for stowage within the case 12 and to confine such cylinder 14 in an upright position. Preferably the over-all height of the case 12 is such that each cylinder 14, when resting upright upon the bottom 15, can be stowed without the need for detaching its associated control valve assembly 30. This is advantageous because it provides a simple manner of stowing the cylinders in a ready-to-use condition, and avoids loose parts within the case 12.

After the grating 13 has been retracted into its stowed configuration, the cover doors 18 can be closed and locked together against opening by means of a latch 25.

As better seen from FIG. 5, the gas burner assemblies 11 are secured to the underside of the grating 13 by brackets 26, and each has a gas inlet tube 27 which extends toward the front of grating 13 at an upwardly inclined angle. When the stove 10, 10 is in the cooking configuration, it is merely necessary to slide the gas outlet tube 28 of the fuel gas control valve assembly 30 into the gas inlet tube 27 until a knurled shoulder on the outlet tube 28 abuts against the end of the inlet tube 27. The upward inclination of the inlet tube 27 will tend to prevent any slipping out of the outlet tube 28 as would decouple the burner 11 from its associated fuel gas cylinder 14, and also serves to establish the elevation height of the upper end of the cylinder 14 been found that an optimum fuel gas combustion is achieved if the cylinders 14 are inclined with their upper ends positioned approximately 6 inches above their lower ends. Accordingly, the slots 20, leg member 22, and gas inlet tubes 27 are so constructed and arranged that when the individual cylinders 14 are coupled to the burner assemblies 11, their lower ends rest upon the base surface B, and their upper ends are at approximately 6 inches above the base surface B to provide such optimum combustion inclination.

One of the advantages of the invention is to be found in the fact that no auxiliary holding devices are required to achieve the aforesaid optimum combustion cylinder 14 inclination.

The construction details of the cooking stove 10, 10' can be varied widely within the scope of the invention, but it has been found expedient to make the carrying case 12 and its cover doors 18 of sheet metal, and the grating 13, leg member 22 and carrying handle 31 of metal rod, preferably steel.

The grating 13 is expediently constructed with a pair of longitudinal rods 32 arranged parallel to the case rear wall 16, and a plurality of transverse rods 33 laid on top of the rods 32 and welded thereto; the rearward rod 32 is extended at its opposite extremities to define the parts 19 which engage into slots 20.

A J-shaped rod piece 34 is welded to the undersides of a pair of transverse rods 33, one piece 34 per burner assembly 11, to allow the pivotal connection of leg member 22 to be made to grating 13 simply by means of eyelets 35 wrapped around each of two pieces 34. The hooked portion of the pieces 34 is arranged to pass underneath the gas inlet tubes 27 of corresponding burner assemblies 11, so as to stabilize the attachment thereof to the grating 13 against twisting or bending, and to prevent any downward shifting of the gas inlet tubes 27 as would result in positioning the coupled fuel gas cylinders 14 below the aforementioned optimum combustion angle.

As can be appreciated by the artisan, the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations which will become obvious from the foregoing. However, the invention is intended to be limited only by the following claims in which we have endeavored to claim all inherent novelty.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable cooking stove which comprises a portable exterior case adapted to rest upon a generally horizontal support surface in an upright attitude, a grating and a pivotally mounted leg member thereon adapted to pivot out and support said grating in the horizontal position, a gas burner connected to said grating for support thereby, said grating and burner being disposed for support by said case in a generally horizontal cooking position extending outwardly therefrom, in which position said case defines a windshield laterally shielding said grating and burner, said grating and burner being disposed for support by said case in a stowed configuration therewithin for portability therewith, and a control valve assembly disposed for coupling to a fuel gas cylinder and to said gas burner to selectively dispense fuel gas from said cylinder to the burner for burning thereby when said grating and gas burner are in the extended cooking position, wherein said grating is hingedly and slidably mounted in said case through projecting parts disposed for engagement into corresponding slots in said case and is adapted to be stowed in said case in a position generally perpendicular to said horizontal surface and is adapted to slide down and out into said horizontal cooking position, and wherein said case has a rear wall, a bottom panel, and a pair of opposite side walls disposed to confine at least one fuel gas cylinder within the case for carrying therein between said grating, leg member, rear wall and a side wall when said grating, gas burner and leg member are in their respective stowed configuration positions.

2. The cooking stove according to claim 1 including a pair of gas burners each connected to said grating for support thereby, and a pair of control valve as- 1 semblies, each disposed for coupling to a fuel gas cylinder and to a corresponding gas burner to selectively dispense fuel gas from said cylinder to the respective gas burner for' burning thereby, and wherein said grating, the leg member, rear wall and both side walls of the case are disposed to confine a pair of fuel gas cylinders within the case for carrying therein, each cylinder between said grating, the leg member, the rear wall and one of said side walls when said grating, gas burners, and leg member are in their respective stowed configuration positions.

3. The cooking stove according to claim 1 including a pair of cover doors each hingedly connected to the front portion of a corresponding side wall of said case and disposed for pivotal movement into a closed position to enclose the grating, leg member, gas burner and each fuel gas cylinder within the case, when the grating, leg member and gas burner are in their respective stowed configuration positions, and disposed for pivotal movement into an open position to define adjustable windshield parts laterally shielding the grating and gas burner when same are in their extended cooking position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,610 12/1916 Muehleisen 12638 2,824,205 2/1958 Stickel. 2,861,562 11/1958 Ross et al 12638 2,969,054 l/196 1 Axelsson 12638 3,080,861 3/1963 Amero 12638 3,145,704 8/1964 Broecker 126-38 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,163 1908 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

E. G. FAVORS, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,430,622 March 4, 1969 Milo E. Webster et al It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4 after line 12 insert above the base surface B. In this connection it has Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

